John Murtagh's day at the Curragh could be described as mixed considering he picked up a two-day ban but on balance the former champion jockey was more than happy to regard a treble, which included a Group race double, as a more than adequate upside.
Murtagh picked up the suspension for careless riding when Golden Silca barged past Duck Row before sprinting clear in the Ridgewood Pearl Desmond Stakes but there was no such sting after Takali's gallant Royal Whip success.
Instead there was an upbeat bulletin from trainer John Oxx on the progress of the brilliant double Derby winner Sinndar and the various alternatives he has for an Arc de Triomphe warm-up.
"The Prix Niel (September 10th) is the number one option but if the ground comes up firm at Longchamp he could run in the Blandford Stakes here the following weekend. I will discuss it with the Aga Khan but we've given him a Blandford entry," said Oxx.
The trainer added that Sinndar has yet to get back to serious work but described him as being "in great form" and reported that Raypour and Takali have both been given Prix Niel and Blandford entries also in order to keep Sinndar's pacemaker options open.
Meanwhile, Takali's own career is motoring along nicely and he added the Group 2 Royal Whip to the Group 3 Meld Stakes over the Curragh's 10 furlongs with another gutsy display, fighting back to regain the initiative from Molomo in the final strides.
"He's done well to win. The slow pace didn't suit and he needed the other one to pass him and give him something to fight," said Oxx. In the concluding Borris Race, Raypour gave notice of his own well being for the autumn as he overhauled the pace setting Cymbeline to win by a length.
The drama in Golden Silca's victory was less straightforward as the Mick Channon-trained filly managed to get herself boxed in a three-horse race at a critical stage. Murtagh forced his way out, however, and ultimately Golden Silca ran out an easy winner from Duck Row and the favourite Muakaad.
Affianced looked an unlikely winner of the Debutante Stakes a furlong and a half out as she was stone last of the 13-strong field and Kevin Manning was working hard. Remarkably, though, she managed to pounce late and short head the favourite Sequoyah who had something of a nightmare run through the race but still looked all over the winner inside the final furlong.
Manning and Jim Bolger had earlier won the opening Nursery with Alfina who proved a head too good for Warrior Wings.
